Steering-gear.



P. A. BOWMANKz-J. E. BRIGGS.

STEERING GEAR. APPLIGATION FILED MAY 20, 1913'.

Paten ted. Sept. 1', 1914.

(June/whoa w m m a v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. BOWMAN AND JOHN E. BRIGGS, OF GILBERT, MIIINESOTA.

STEERING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Sept. '1, 1914.

Application filed Kay 20, 1913. Serial No. 768,882.

' c all when it con n- Be it known that we, FRANK A. Bowman and JOHN E. Bmccs, citizens-of the United oursaid application, we disclosed a wheel which is plvotally connected to the end of an axle, the pivotal point being in the radial plane of the spokes of the wheel. Inasmuch as the pivotal point is in the lane of the spokes, an ordinary strai ht ra ius rod cannot be utilized to success ully steer the vehicle for the reason that such rod will not then give an equal throw to both wheels', and the object of our present invention is to provide a simple compactly arranged and easily .operated means for shifting the wheels about their pivotal connections, with the axle.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: .Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement showing it in its operative position and illustrating the wheel hubs in section; Fig. 2 is an elevation with parts broken away and the wheels in section; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

The axle 1 is of the usual form and material with its ends 2 slightly offset and twisted so as to accommodate the pivot pins 3 which are set at an inclination or angle to the vertical so that when the wheels are centers of the arcs over whic turned about the pivotal points the upper edges of the whee s will swin toward the the wheels travel, as set forth in our aforesaid application. At the center of the axle, we provide a bracket or lug 4 upon which is pivoted an equalizing lever 5 consisting of diverging arms fulcrumed at their meeting ends upon a pin6 which is carried by the lug or bracket 4. The outer ends of the diverging arms of this lever are pivoted to enlargements 7 at the inner ends of up er and lower radius rods 8 and 9, one arm' eing pivoted to the upper radius rod, as shown at 10, while the other arm is pivoted to the lower radius rod, as shown at 11. The outer ends of the radius rods are 'pivotally connected to arms 12 rigid with andextending forwardly from the blocks or stub-axles 13 upon whic the hubs 14 of the wheels are mounted to rotate, it being understood thatthe pivot pins 3 are inserted through the stub-axles 13 and the ends of the main axle 1. It will be noted that the inner ends of the radius rods 8 and 9 extend past each other so that the'said rods have an overlapping relation, and it will also be noted that the pivot 6 and the two pivots 3 are in one line, and a line drawn through the pivots 6 and 10 will be parallel to 'a line drawn through the righthand pivot 3 in Fig. 1 and the pivotal connection between the upper radius rod 8 and the adjacent arm 12, while a line drawn through the pivot 6 and the pivot 11 will be iparallel to a line drawn through the leftand pivot 3 and'the pivotal connection between the lower radius rod 9 and the adja cent arm 12. By reason of this arrange ment, the wheels at both sides of the vehicle will be given the same throw and, consequently, the steering of the vehicle will be accomplished positively and easil without any tendency to buckling of the ax e or other damage to any of the parts.

The steering column mounted uponthe body of the vehicle may be connected to one of the radius rods or to'the fulcrum in 6 or deemed advisable. When movement is 'or otherwise attached, as may be pre erred imparted to any one of the members of the steering mechanism, all the other parts will be simultaneously moved, as they are'positivel connected and inasmuch as each radius rod is connected directly toonly one wheel and a swinging connection .isprovided between the two steering rods,-the1r inner ends may move freely in similar arcs without any tendency of the parts to bind'or break. The device 1s obviously simple and inex ensive and will be found highly' efiicient 01 purposes for which it is designed.

What we claim is The combination of an axle, wheels pivotally mounted thereon, the pivots being disposed in the diametrical plane of the wheels and between the sides of the wheels, arms rigidly connected to said wheels at one side of the axle and extending laterally there,- from, steering rods pivoted at their outer ends to the free ends of said arms and hav- 'ing their inner ends overlapping, and an the the axle and having their free ends pivoted In testimony-whereof we aflix our signato the inner ends of the respective steering tures'in presence'of two witnesses.

rods, said diverging arms being parallel FRANK A. BOWMAN. [L. 5.] with hues assln through the outer ends of the steering rods to which they are respec- JOHN BRIGGS tively ivoted and the pivotal connection of Witnesses: the ax e with the wheel adj acentsaid steer- H. LINDAHL, ing rod; A. B.' SHANK. 

